Thursday, November 18, 2010

Congress failed to hear the message the American people sent on Election Day. On Thursday, November 18, during Congress’ lame-duck session, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law will hold a hearing on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Urgent calls are needed to oppose this treaty.

Additional Resources

Background

CEDAW is an international treaty drafted by the United Nations in 1979. Although it was signed by the Carter administration, it has never been ratified by the U.S. Senate. While it was intended for a good purpose—stopping discrimination against women and girls—ratification by the U.S. Senate would not provide any greater protections to women and would actually cause irreparable harm to American sovereignty and to homeschool families. We urge you to read a detailed analysis of CEDAW and how it threatens homeschool freedom.

If CEDAW is ratified, it will embolden internationalists to attempt ratification of additional treaties. HSLDA fears that approving CEDAW would be the first step toward ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which would cause even greater harm to homeschool freedom and parental rights. You can read Mike Farris’ detailed analysis of the U.N. children’s rights treaty online.

Action Requested

If your senator is listed below, please call him immediately and urge him to oppose CEDAW.

If you choose, you can identify yourself as a homeschooler and explain how ratification of CEDAW would harm you specifically. You can use some or all of the following message:

“Please oppose the United Nation’s CEDAW treaty during the hearing on Thursday, November 18. CEDAW would cause great harm to American sovereignty. Additionally, it will hurt the freedom of parents to choose how to educate their children and would allow the federal government to regulate how schools and parents teach their children under the guise of eliminating gender bias. Finally, it will not provide any greater protection to women and girls because U.S. laws and foreign policy already protect women from discrimination.”

The following senators are on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. If your senator is not on the committee, call the chairman and urge him to oppose CEDAW:

Richard Durbin (IL), chairman (202) 224-2152

Russell Feingold (WI) (202) 224-5323

Benjamin Cardin (MD) (202) 224-4524

Edward Kaufman (DE) (202) 224-5042

Arlen Specter (PA) (202) 224-4254

Al Franken (MN) (202) 224-5641

Lindsey Graham (SC) (202) 224-5972

Tom Coburn (OK)—calls not needed—Senator Coburn opposes CEDAW

John Cornyn (TX)—calls not needed—Senator Cornyn opposes CEDAW

You can visit HSLDA’s Legislative Toolbox to find more contact information for your U.S. senators. We encourage you to send emails using the link above to thank senators Coburn and Cornyn for their opposition to CEDAW.

Monday, May 3, 2010

* H3645 * raises the compulsory attendance age to 18 and ties the driver's license to school attendance. This bill, which has a fiscal impact of $100,000 for the DMV, would require school attendance as a condition for the issuance of a driver's license for anyone less than eighteen years of age.

It also requires that at the time of application for a license, documentation of enrollment status be presented to the DMV on a form approved by the Department.

But the real issue is this: "The board of trustees of the school district, the governing body of a private school, and _*an official of a home school association *_shall notify the Department of Motor Vehicles when an enrolled student who is at least fifteen but less than eighteen years of age has accumulated seven or more total unexcused absences, been expelled, or dropped out of school within fourteen days of occurrence."

This is not only beyond the scope of the home school law, but it would also require parents to report to their associations any unexcused absences, a definite infringement on the rights of home school parents and an unnecessary burden on association directors.

This bill has now come out of committee and passed second vote on the floor of the House.

We strongly urge all home schoolers to call their representatives and ask them to--at the very least--drop home schoolers from this bill.

The bill is due for debate and/or vote on Tuesday, May 4.

If you do not know who your representative is, go to www.votesmart.org and type in your zip code. You can find all the contact information there for your representative and senator.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Homeschool Day at the Capitol

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

All Homeschoolers are encouraged to meet in Columbia on WEDNESDAY, April 28, 2010 to Meet Your Senators and Representatives! Great Civic Experience!!Plenty of tour opportunities at both the State Capitol Building, and the Governor's Mansion/Green. Plus, special discounts at SC Confederate Relic Room and Museum, Art Museum and Riverbanks Zoo. Cost (except for Art Museum and Riverbanks Zoo) is free, but pre-registration for tours is mandatory. Pre-register at schea2@sc.rr.com.

Come meet your legislators, enjoy the home school bands, sit in on workshops, have a try at the scavenger hunt, enter an original business card.

Plan to arrive early to make it through security before registration. Please leave as much as you can in your car. Everything else will need to fit in a zip lock bag. Be prepared to empty your pockets of keys, change or other items. Avoid bulky strollers and diaper bags.

See the web site for lots more details www.SCHomeEducatorsAssociation.org

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Home School Bookstore

930 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce,SC29033 ~ (803) 227-2665

Curricula, Supplemental Resources, and Educational Toys

Huge Used Book Sale!March 15-18, 2010

Hundreds of hardcover textbooks—most in great condition—will be available during a Huge Used Book Sale at Home School Bookstore, Monday, March 15th, through Thursday, March 18th. The vast majority of items will be priced between 50 cents and three dollars. Several books have accompanying teacher keys and student workbooks. Subjects include literature, English, handwriting, spelling, health, science, math (some Saxon), social studies, foreign language, and music. Materials are available for elementary, middle school, and high school students. Some textbooks are available in quantities adequate for group classes.

Please spread the word about the sale! The public is welcome. Doors open at 9:30am and close at 5:00pm each day except Thursday when the doors will be open until 9:00pm.

As always, everyday is tax-free day at the Home School Bookstore!

Regular hours of 9:30am – 5:00pm will be extended to 9:00pm on Thursday, March 18